Planning poker is a popular technique used by agile teams to estimate the effort required to complete a project or task. This technique is also referred to as Scrum poker or Agile poker and is commonly used in software development projects.
The planning poker estimation technique involves a group of team members coming together to estimate the effort required to complete a specific task. Team members estimate the effort based on a story point scale, which assigns numerical values to different levels of complexity and effort required for each task.
The purpose of planning poker estimation is to provide an accurate, reliable, and consistent estimation of time and effort required for each task. This helps teams plan their sprints and allocate resources effectively.
There are several benefits of using planning poker estimation. The first benefit is that it allows all team members to participate in the estimation process, ensuring that everyone’s opinion is taken into account. This promotes collaboration and teamwork within the team.
Another benefit of planning poker estimation is that it helps prevent bias or influence from senior team members or managers who may have more experience in the field. By using a story point scale, every member’s input holds equal weight, regardless of their level of experience.
Planning poker estimation also helps identify potential risks early on in the project lifecycle. If there are discrepancies in the estimates provided by team members, this can help identify areas where further clarification may be necessary, or where additional resources may be needed to ensure successful completion of the project.
To conduct a planning poker session, each team member receives a set of cards with numbers ranging from 0-100 (or higher if required). The facilitator reads out each task one at a time and asks each team member to select a card that represents their estimate for the effort required for that particular task.
Once all team members have selected their card, they reveal them simultaneously. If there are any discrepancies or disagreements between estimates provided by different team members, discussions can take place until consensus is reached.
In conclusion, planning poker estimation is a valuable technique that helps agile teams estimate the effort required to complete a project or task accurately. By using a story point scale and involving all team members in the estimation process, planning poker promotes collaboration and teamwork within the team. Additionally, it helps identify potential risks early on in the project lifecycle and ensures successful project completion by allocating resources effectively.
